10 fun facts about Eduardo Camavinga

Eduardo Camavinga is a professional footballer from France. Of Angolan descent, he currently serves as a central midfielder for both the French national team and Real Madrid, a Spanish club. Camavinga initiated his football journey with AGL Drapeau-Fougeres, a local club in his hometown, before progressing to the youth academy of Stade Rennais.

In 2019, he marked his professional debut for Rennes at the tender age of 16, setting a record as the youngest player to feature for the first team at that time. Since then, Camavinga has emerged as one of the most promising young talents in global football, renowned for his exceptional technical abilities, midfield control, as well as his adept tackling and interception skills.

Camavinga had an impressive 2020-21 season, making 39 appearances for Rennes across all competitions. During this time, he scored one goal and provided two assists. His outstanding performances caught the attention of the French national team, and he made his debut at just 17 years old in September 2020.

In the summer of 2021, Camavinga secured a €30 million transfer to Real Madrid, making him the only signing for the Spanish club that season. His impactful contributions off the bench in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages received widespread acclaim. Coach Carlo Ancelotti often brought him on when Real Madrid were behind, and Camavinga consistently made a positive impact, helping to turn the tide in Madrid’s favor. Below are some fun facts about him.

1. Tough upbringing

Eduardo Camavinga was born in Angola to Congolese parents, Sofia and Celestino. At the age of two, his family moved to France as refugees. They settled in the outskirts of Rennes, where they established a home with the support of their neighbors and friends.

2. Obtained a Baccalaureate in ES

Camavinga successfully completed his Baccalaureate in ES (Economic and Social Sciences) on July 7, 2020, without any special mention. The interruption of classes caused by the coronavirus prevented him from taking the exams. Consequently, the National Education authorities made the decision to grant him his baccalaureate based on his ongoing academic performance.

3. Scored on his Real Madrid debut

Real Madrid signed Camavinga on the final day of the 2021 summer transfer window. He made his first appearance for Los Blancos in a La Liga match against Celta Vigo on September 12, 2021, where he came on as a substitute and scored a goal. Just three days later, he made his Champions League debut for the ‘Kings of Europe’ against Inter Milan, assisting Rodrygo’s goal, which turned out to be the only goal of the game.

4. Youngest player to debut for France and score a goal since 1914

He marked his international debut on September 8 during a 4-2 win against Croatia in the UEFA Nations League, entering the field to substitute N’Golo Kante in the second half. Consequently, at 17 years, 9 months, and 29 days old, he became the youngest player to play for France’s national team since Maurice Gastiger in 1914.

Camavinga earned his first starting spot for France on October 7, 2020, facing Ukraine, and netted his inaugural goal for his nation with an impressive overhead kick to kick off the scoring. He currently holds the title of France’s youngest goal scorer since Maurice Gastiger in 1914.

5. Nicknamed Tacklevinga

Camavinga showcases exceptional defensive skills, earning him the nickname ‘Tacklevinga’ due to his superb tackling abilities that stand out among his Ligue 1 rivals. He said, “Before this season I had never played as a number six but I’ve learned to appreciate the position,” Camavinga stated in an interview with AS in 2020. “

” I like to play as a number eight as well, as a box-to-box midfielder, to have space. I also love a sliding tackle. I don’t know where it came from, there was a time when I didn’t like defending, but now I love going in on the feet of an opponent to win the ball. I prefer that to interceptions. It’s much more fun to watch. I love sliding tackles, it’s instinctive.”

6. A stadium has been named after him

Eduardo Camavinga, at just 18 years old, received a remarkable tribute – a stadium named after him. Growing up near La Chapelle-Janson in the charming town of Fougeres, he now has the Stade Intercommunal Eduardo Camavinga proudly bearing his name. Within this magnificent stadium lies the CF2L, an academy that unites gifted athletes from the local community, providing them with top-notch training and opportunities to showcase their skills in competitive events.

7. Youngest player in Ligue 1 history to win Player of the Month award

In August 2019, Camavinga showcased his exceptional skills on the field, particularly during the 2-1 victory over PSG. He not only assisted a goal but also won 17 duels successfully, boasting an impressive pass completion rate of 97.6%. As a result of his outstanding performances, he was honored with the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month award, making history as the youngest player ever to receive this accolade in the French top-flight league at just 16 years, nine months, and eight days old.

8. His idols

In an interview with AS in 2021, Camavinga expressed his admiration for Benzema, considering him an idol for everyone in France. He highlighted Benzema’s exceptional ability to connect with younger players, as demonstrated with Vinicius. Being French himself, Camavinga mentioned that Benzema’s assistance is particularly valuable to him, especially since he only speaks a little Spanish.

In a friendly gesture, Camavinga exchanged shirts with Cristiano Ronaldo after their 0-0 draw in the UEFA Nations League in 2020. He proudly shared a photo of Ronaldo’s jersey on his social media, humorously captioning it, “Je le lave pas” (I won’t wash it). Additionally, Camavinga revealed that he looked up to French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, who was his midfield partner at Rennes.

When Camavinga burst onto the scene at Rennes, he drew comparisons to his fellow France teammate Paul Pogba. While acknowledging Pogba’s exceptional skills and achievements, Camavinga expressed his dislike for comparisons. He stated, “I’m inspired by Paul Pogba. He’s a very good player with great qualities. He proved it in the French team, just look what he did: world champion. But I don’t really like comparisons.”

9. Loves movies

Camavinga expressed his preference for the cinema when asked about his favorite outing, stating that he enjoys visiting the cinema.

10. Loves to play PlayStation

During his leisure time, Camavinga enjoys indulging in PlayStation gaming. While he initially immersed himself in the renowned Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, he now engages in FIFA matches with his companions.”I like playing games. FIFA, I play online with my friends.”

When asked about his preference for controlling his own virtual player in the game, he humorously replied, “I took myself at the start, I made a career, I had to test myself (laughs). But when I play with me, it’s never a good sign, I only make passes with me (laughs).”